Conquering your nerves while singing!

Nerves are real.  They are something that can completely destroy an audition or performance.  They display themselves in different ways in different people and they can be unpredictable.

The ONLY WAY to truly conquer or control nerves during a performance or audition is by getting practice performing and auditioning.  (I spoke about this in my 10 tips to a great audition blog entry a few months ago).

I can not emphasize enough how important it is to practice standing and being looked at, judged, and listened to by different people.  This is a craft in itself.  Also, you want to practice under NOT ideal circumstances.  I can’t tell you how many important auditions I have been to where the judges talked to each other- even laughed, filled out paper work, or ate loudly during my “moment”.  Somehow you have to learn to get through all of it like it does not effect you.

Other things that can happen, the pianist can turn two pages instead of one while accompanying you, someone can walk into the room looking for the bathroom in your peak point of your piece, phones can ring,  kids can throw tantrums, school buzzers can go off… Through all those things, you need to seem polished and professional without nerves.  (crazy I know)

How nerves display themselves in your performance can also be a rare treat.  I remember my first performance for my fellow singers in the Opera department of USC, just two songs.  I stood up there and the right side of my face twitched the whole time.  I could not control it and it was obvious.  That had never happened to me before.  I remember watching someone in those same Friday performances and she took her index finger and swiveled it like mad the whole time she stood up and sang to us.  I think that is all anyone saw- her finger.

You can loose breath control, your ability to sustain your sound, all means of body support, your words, the song, your entrances, your name….AHHHHHHHHHH!  I have seen it and probably experienced it all.

BUT, the MORE YOUR PERFORM the less these crazy nerves will display themselves and take over.  You may still feel like you are going to throw up before you perform for the rest of your life, but as long as it disappears when the lights are on you, that is the goal.

So go people and sing for people.  Sing for your grandparents, your friends, your piano teachers.  Sing for your mother’s book club, or your father’s rotary club.  Volunteer at hospitals, old age homes, any where you see a piano.  Go to karaoke bars, step up and volunteer at a jazz club.

Ideally, get yourself a singing gig that is regular and frequent.  Whether standing up weekly in a church or temple, or performing in an Italian restaurant.  (I recently blogged on ideas for singing jobs check it out).

The person who is practiced at performing WILL have the edge.  Be prepared and gain victory over your nerves!

(Where is my triumphant music??)

Ariella Vaccarino- creator of Voice Lessons To Go- singing lessons on CD, and author of Vocalize!

www.voicelessonstogo.com

Tags: Add new tag, confident singing, nerves and singing

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 18th, 2008 at 1:51 am and is filed under Auditioning tips, Singing Tips, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.